Bale-reducing and pad-forming machine



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BALE REDUGING AND PAD FURMING MACHINE.

7 Sheets-Sheet l.

(Application tiled Sept. 18, 18,97.)

(No Model.)

No. 6|8,9|6. Patented Feb. 7, |899. E. J. STEWART.

BALE REDUCING AND PAD FORMING MACHINE.

' (Application led Sept. 18, 1897.) v (No Model.) l7 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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MlhkwN No. 6I8,9|6. Patented Feb. 7, |899. E. ..l. STEWART.

BALE BEDUCING AND PAD FORMING MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 18, 1897.) v (No Model.) 7 Sheets-Sheet 3.

j I I @f N l I l i l r WQ R# Sq '4j I E El me Nonnls PETER: ca. vuofaumnwAsNmmoN. o. c.

No. '6|a,9|6. Patented Feb. 7, |899. E. .1. STEWART. BA'LE REDUCING ANDPD FOHM'ING MACHINE.

(Application led Sept. 18, 1897.)

7 Sheets-Sheet 4.

(No Model.)

Z'zU/efzoz f ,l Y 4 THE NDRRIS PETERS C0, PHUTD LITHO. WASHINGTON. D C.

No. 6I8, 9I6. Patented'Feh. 7, |899.

E. J. STEWART. l BALEIREDUCING AND PAD FUBMING MACHINE.

(Application med Sept. 18, 1897.)

um Mndel.) 7 sheets-sheet 5.

Patented Feb. 7, l1899.

7 Sheets-Sheet 7.

(No Model.)

.EDGAR J. STEWART, OF DES PLAINES, ILLINOIS.

SALE-REDUCING AND PAD-FORIVIING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,916, dated February*7, 1899. 'Application filed September 18,1897. Serial No. 652,181. (Nomodel.)

To all whom t may con/cern:

I Be it known that I, EDGAR J. STEWART, a citizen of the United States,residing at Des Plaines, in the county of Cook, in the State ofIllinois, have invented a certain new and useful Bale-Reducing andPad-Forming Machine, of which the following is a description, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of thisspecification.

The primary object of my invention is the production of a novel andsuperior machine or apparatus for forming packing pads and wrappersconsisting of thin layers of excelsior inclosed between sheets of paper,such pads and wrappers beingextensively used in packing glass and otherarticles to protect them from injury or breakage. To this end my machineor apparatus as a whole consists of two main portions-first, means bywhich the ordinary compressed bales of eXcelsior found in commerce maybe readily disintegrated and reduced to the form of a thin layer or mat,and, second, means by which such thin layer or mat of excelsiordelivered from the bale-reducing apparatus may be inclosed between twocontinuous strips of paper and the edges of the latter be glued orotherwise secured together to. form a continuous mat or pad, whichlatter may be delivered from the machine in that form and besubsequently cut into the desired lengths for diderent uses or may becut into separate pieces as it is delivered from the machine.

The bale-reducin g portion of my apparatus is of novel construction perse and may be employed as a bale-reducing apparatus independently of thepad-forming portion of my machine and for the disintegration andreduction of compressed bales of other materials than eXcelsior, while,on the other hand, the pad-forming portion of my apparatus may beemployed independently of the bale-reducing portion thereof inconnection with any other means for supplying a suitable layer or mat ofeXcelsior to it. The two portions of my apparatus when combined asillustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described,however, form the most complete and perfect as well as the mosteconomical and expeditious pad-forming ma- Figures l and 2 represent anelevation of the left side of the complete apparatus, eX- cepting thebale-feeding devices, it being understood that the machine is broken intwo to form the two views, the upper view being the right-hand or rearend of the machine and the lower View the left-hand or forward end; Fig.3, a top plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. l; Fig.4, a top plan View of the lower series of disintegrating rolls orcylinders, being a View substantially on the dotted line 4. 4 of Fig. 1;Fig. 5, a top plan view of the portion of the machine shown in Fig. 2;Fig. 5f, a detail from Fig. 5; Fig. 6, an elevation of the left side ofthe bale-feeding devices `at the rear of the machine; Fig. 7, anenlargeddetail view in elevation of the left-hand end of the pad feedingand cutting devices at the extreme forward end of the machine; Fig. 8, amiddle vertical section longitudinally of the machine of the parts shownin Fig. 7; Fig. 9, a horizontal section approximately on the lines 9 9of Figs. 7 and 8 of the parts shown in said views; and Fig. l0, avertical section approximately on the lines l0 l0 of Figs. 7 and 8,looking toward the rear of the machine, being in substance a frontelevation of the feedrollers and cutting mechanism at the eXtremeforward end of the machine.

The same letters of reference are used to indicate corresponding partsin all the views.

The operative parts of the apparatus are supported upon a suitableframework A, which may be said to consist mainly of two vertical sideframes located, in the case of the machine illustrated in the drawings,about twenty inches apart and secured together by suitable cross barsand braces. The entire apparatus from its rear end, at which the balesof eXcelsior are fed into it, to its forward end, at which the pads aredelivered from it, is some twenty-five feet in length, and under theconstruction shown in the drawings the main side frames referred toextend the complete length of the apparatus. In the right-hand portionof the framework shown in Fig. l, which is the bale-reducing end of theapparatus, there are located in each side frame two horizontallongitudinal bars B B, Fig. 4, while arranged above each of the bars B Bare two downwardly and forwardly parallel inclined bars C D, there beingthus formed between the horizontal plane of the bars B B and theinclinedplane of the bars C C above them a passage-way E, Fig. l, which is ofconsiderable height at its rear inlet end (being in the present instanceabout twenty-four inches high at that point) and gradually diminishes inheight toward its forward delivery end, as shown. Mounted in boxes F,secured upon the upper edges of the bars B B, are the opposite ends ofthe spindles or j ournals of a series of transversely-arranged cylindersG, which have secured in and projecting from them a series of rows ofradial pins or teeth Il. The inclined bars C C above the bars B Bsupport a second series of similar cylinders G', provided with radialpins H' and journaled in boxes F', secured to the upper edges of thebars C C. The lengths of the radial pins or teeth are such relatively tothe spaces between the adjacent cylinders in each series that the pinswill clear the bodies of the cylinders as the latter revolve, but willoverlap and pass each other, to which end the circumferential rows ofpins on adjacent cylinders are arranged out of line with each other, thecircumferential rows on alternate cylinders being in line with eachother, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. In said views the alternate cylinders,beginning with the one at the right hand end, are shown provided withsix circumferential rows of pins, while the intermediate cylinders haveiive rows. In the actual machine, however, the cylinders are preferablyprovided with double or treble this number of rows of pins, a lessnumber being shown in the drawings for convenience of illustration andto avoid confusion owing to the comparatively small scale of saiddrawings.

Secured at their opposite ends in the horizontal bars B B are a seriesof transverse bars I, to which are secured the lower ends of a series ofvertical supports J, consisting of narrow strips or plates having theirupper ends bent to horizontal position to form flat supporting-surfaces.Resting upon and secured to the upper ends of these supports J are aseries of narrow metal strips K, extending longitudinally of the machinefrom one end to the other of the series of cylinders G, Fig. 4, andsecured at their extreme rear ends to one of the cross-bars of theframework. As seen in Fig. 4, there is one of the longitudinal strips Kbetween each two longitudinal rows of the pins II upon the cylinders G,and also two side strips along the outer rows of pins at the ends of thecylinders. The supports J for the strips K are of substantially the samewidth as the strips and extend upward between the longitudinal rows ofpins upon the cylinders and between the two outer longitudinal rows andthe side frames of the machine, and the adjacent longitudinal rows ofsupports J and the strips K, carried by them, are separated by narrowslits of suficient width to permit the free passage of the pins as thecylinders revolve, but to otherwise form, as nearly as may be, a closedplatform above said cylinders, such platform constituting the bottom ofthe tapered passage E referred to, Fig. 4. The inclined longitudinalbars D D above the bars O C, which support the upper series ofcylinders, have likewise secured in them cross-bars I', which havesecured to them the upper ends of inverted supports J', which correspondto the supports J above described, and which have secured to their lowerends longitudinal strips K', corresponding to the strips K and arrangedrelatively to and coperating with the cylinders G' and their pins Il' inthe same manner as the strips K in respect to the cylinders G and theirpins I-I in the lower series. This upper series of strips K' forms theinclined top of the tapered passage E. The open spaces of the frameworkat the opposite sides of the passage E will be closed by suitable sidepieces. (Omitted from the drawings in order to expose the parts withinthem.)

The cylinders in each series are driven at a gradually-increasing speedfrom the righthand or inlet end of the machine to its lefthand ordischarging end. The extreme righthand cylinder in each series is drivenat a very low rate of speed, preferably not exceeding ten revolutionsper hour, and the succeeding cylinders at the left are driven at aregularly-increasing rate of speed, each cylinder being preferablydriven about onethird faster than the adjacent cylinder in rear (to theright) of it, with the result that while the cylinders at the right-handor inlet end of the machine make only a few revolutions per hour thoseat the left-hand or discharging end make a considerable number ofrevolutions per minute, depending upon the number of cylinders employedin the series and the rate of increase in their speed.

The cylinders may be driven in the abovedescribed manner by any suitabledriving means and connections. In the machine shown in the drawings theadjacent cylinders are geared to each other by sprocket chains andwheels, each cylinder, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, having asprocket-wheel L fast upon one projecting end of its spindle or journaloutside the side frame of the machine and a smaller sprocket M fast uponthe opposite projecting end of its spindle, and the positions of thelarge and small sprockets are reversed on adjacent cylinders in eachseries, so that the large sprockets are upon the spindles of thealternate cylinders and the small sprockets upon the spindles of theintermediate cylinders at each side of the machine.

Short endless sprocket-chains N, passing around the sprocket-wheels ofthe adjacent cylinders at each end of the latter, gear them together.The sprocket-chains N are shown in Figs. 3 and 4, but omitted from Fig.l to prevent confusion. If the driving power were applied at the eXtremerear end ofthe machine to the right-hand cylinders in each series, the

large sprockets would constitute the drivingsprockets throughout theseries and the small ones the driven sprockets, and the two sets ofsprockets are of such size relatively to each other as to produce thedesired increase in the rate of speed of the cylinders. I prefer,however, to apply the driving power at a point near the middle of eachseries of cylinders and to drive both ways from such point, in whichevent the small sprockets on the cylinders at the right or in rear ofthe drivingpoint constitute the driving-sprockets and the large ones thedriven sprockets. In the present instance one end of the spindle of thecylinder at O in the upper series, Fig. l, is shown extended and havingmounted upon it a fast pulley P and a loose pulley Q, Fig. 3, over whichpasses a shifting belt from a counter-shaft. The spindle of thiscylinder also has fast upon it a gear R, which meshes with a gear S,fast upon the spindle of the cylinder immediately beneath it in thelower series, and by this means the two series of cylinders are drivenin the manner described.

The parts which have been explained constitute the essential portion ofthe bale-reducing apparatus, whose operation may be briefly described asfollows: The ordinary commercial bales of excelsior are forty-eightinches in length by twenty-two inches in width and eighteen inches inheight or thickness, and, as before stated, the side frames of theapparatus above described are located about twenty inches apart, whilethe open right-hand end of the passage E between the two series ofcylinders is about twenty-four inches in height. The inlet end of thepassage E is therefore of proper size to freely admit one end of a baleof eXcelsi'or when the latter is placed upon its edge and pressed intothe passage. Immediately at the right of the open end of the passage Eis located a table or platform, whose upper surface is flush with andforms a continuation of the lower platform K or bottom of the passage E,upon which table the bale of excelsior rests as it is being fed into themachine, Fig. 6. The bale may be fed into the machine by pressureapplied upon it by an attendant; but I prefer to employ automatic meansfor feeding a series of bales into the machine without the constantemployment of an attendant for the purpose, which means will behereinafterdescribed. As

the forward end of the bale is pressed int-o the open end of the passageE its lower edge will rest upon the bottom K of the passage, while itsupper edge will contact with the inclined top K thereof, and the teethI'I of the end cylinder G in the lower series will act upon its lowerforward corner, while the teeth I-I of the end cylinder G in the upperseries will act upon its upper corner. The revolution of thesecylinders, with their teeth acting upon the front end of the bale, willdisintegrate the latter at its upper and lower forward corners andpermit it to farther advance into the passage, so that the secondcylinders in the two series may come into play upon it, and as theaction of the four cylinders continues upon it it will be furtherdisintegrated and permitted to farther enter the passage, so thatadditional cylinders in eachseries will, pair by pair, come into actionupon it, and as the material in the front end of the bale'becomesgraduallyloosened and disconnected from the compressed body of the balethe succeeding cylinders will act upon it more and more rapidly, untilit is finally reduced to a thin layer or mat as it is delivered from theforward discharging end of the apparatus, the graduallyincreasing speedof the cylinders being such that the ones at the discharging end of themachine will operate to deliver the material from the machine in theform of this thin layer as fast as it is fed into the machine in theform in the compressed bales and disintegrated by the slower-runningcylinders toward the rear of the machine.

The autom atic means whichI have provided for feeding the bales ofeXcelsior to the balereducing apparatus is shown in Fig. 6, where itwill be seen that supported upon a suitable framework in rear of themain frame of the machine heretofore described is a table or platformK5, formin ga rearward continuation of the platform K, constituting thebottom of the bale-passage E. The upper surface of the platform K5 atits forward end is flush with the upper surface of the platform K, so asto permit the bales of excelsior placed upon the platform K5 to befreely slid forward from the same onto the platform K. In rear of thispoint of junction between the two platforms the platform K5 may beeither horizontal or bev slightly inclined upward and rearward, asshown, to facilitate the -movement of the bales upon it. Journaled inbearings upon the framework beneath and in rear of the front end of theplatform K5 is a shaft K9, which has fast upon its opposite ends twogrooved wheels K1. Also journaled in bearings upon the framework at therear end of the platform K5 is a second shaft K8, having fast upon itsopposite ends two like-grooved wheels K9. Passing around each pair ofwheels K7 K9, at the opposite sides of the machine, is an endless belt,chain, or rope K19. Fast upon one end of the forward shaft K6 is asprocket-wheel K11, around which passes a chain K12, which also passesaround a smaller sprocket fast upon the outer end of the spindle of theeXtreme rear cylinder in the lower series G, by means of whichconnection the shaft K6 is driven in a forward IOO direction, causingthe wheels K7 K9 to carry the ropes K10 in the direction of the arrow.

The bales of excelsior K13 are placed upon the platform K5 in series,one immediately behind the other, and are guided in their forwardmovement along said platform and held from displacement by side railsK14, secured to the framework. Detachably connected at its opposite endsto the endless ropes K10 is a cross-bar K15, which rests and travels atits opposite ends upon the upper surfaces of the guide-rails K14 as theropes K10 move forward. Under this construction and arrangement of partsthe operation of the feeding mechanism may be briefly described asfollows: At the beginning of operations the platform K5 is filled withbales K13 in series one after another and abutting against each other attheir adjacent ends, and the cross-bar K15 is slipped forward along theropes K10 unt-il it abuts against the rear end of the rearmost bale K13and in that position is fastened at its opposite ends to the ropes K10.Upon now starting the machine the series of bales K13 will be slowlycarried forward along the platform K5 by the bar K15 and the front endof the foremost bale forced into the rear end of the bale-passage E intoposition for the end cylinder of the upper and lower series to act uponit, as heretofore described. The proportions and adjustments of theparts are such that the bales will be carried forward at the proper rateof speed to be disposed of bythe toothed cylinders. lVhen the rearmostbale in the series upon the platform K5 has been advanced until itsforward end enters the bale-reducing passage E, the crossbar K15 will bedetached at its-opposite ends from the ropes K10, either with or withoutstopping the machine, (the movement of the ropes being exceedinglyslow,) and be moved rearward to the rear end of the platform K5 and thelatter be filled with another series of bales and the bar K15 be thenslipped forward against the rear end of the rearmost bale andreconnected to the ropes K10, whereupon the operation will proceed asbefore. Any suitable means may be employed for detachably connecting theopposite ends of the bar K15 to the ropes K10, and no specific meansneed be illustrated or described. If desired, a suitable signalingdevice may be located near the forward end of the platform K5 inposition to be sounded by the bar K15 as the latter approaches theforward end of the platform K5 to indicate that the supply of bales uponthe platform is about exhausted.

In the present instance there are shown located at the discharging endof Jthe balereducing apparatus above described a series of sets or pairsof supplemental toothed cylinders G", Fig. l, corresponding to thecylinders G and G of the main series. These supplemental cylinders G arearranged in separate vertical pairs, the two cylinders of each pairbeing journaled in vertical posts or standards T, provided at theirlower ends with feet, which are bolted to horizontal bars of the sideframes of the machine. rlhe two standards supporting each pair ofcylinders are connected immediately below the lower cylinder by across-bar U and immediately above the upper cylinder by a secondcrossbar V, Figs. l and 3. The lower one, U, of these two cross-barsserves to support a series of narrow metal strips WV, Figs. l and 4,which are bent around the cylinders G" to the shape shown, and whosehorizontal upper surfaces form continuations of the longitudinal stripsK, constituting the bottom passage between the two series of cylinders Gand G', Fig. t. The upper cross-bar V serves to support similar metalstrips V, Figs. l and 3, whose flat lowersides form continuations of theinclined top strips K of the passageE between the cylinders. The layerof excelsior delivered by the cylinders G and G at the discharging endof the apparatus therefore passes on between the two supplemental seriesof cylinders G, which further act upon it before it is finally deliveredto the feed-apron to be carried to the pad-forming portion of theapparatus hereinafter described. The cylinders G are driven one fromanother and the rearmost one from the adjacent end cylinders G or G' bysprocket chains and wheels, as in the case of the cylinders of the mainseries, but in this instance at a uniform speed with the two endcylinders G and G. The pairs of supplemental cylinders G" are entirelyindependent of each other, and one or more or all of them may be removedby simply loosening the bolts which fasten them to the framework. Theprincipal purpose of these supplemental pairs of cylinders is to providemeans for narrowing the layer of eXcelsior I more or less as it isdischarged from the balereducing apparatus, to which endV saidsupplemental pairs of cylinders are provided with converging guidewaysacting upon the opposite edges of the layer of excelsior, which have theeffect to narrow the latter to a greater orless degree, according as allor only part of the series of pairs be employed. This feature of themachine, however, relates to the provision of means by which pads ofvarying width may be formed upon the same machine, and as the novelty ofmy machine does not depend upon the means employed for this purposeeither at this or at other point-s in the machine and inasmuch as theessential features of my invention may be fully explained withoutfurther reference to this feature of the machine no detailedillustration of the supplemental cylinders G and the converging guidesreferred to need be given, and it may be assumed that the layer ofexcelsior passes between the cylinders G" in the same condition as whenit issues from between the end cylinders of the series G and G".

Bolted to the upper edge of the side frames of the machine immediatelyin front (at the left) of the supplemental cylinders G" is a frame X,Fig. 2, in whose opposite ends are journaled two rollers X X, aroundwhich is passed an endless apron Y, Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Upon theprojecting end of the spindle of one of the rollers (in this instancethe forward one, X') is secured a pulley Y', around which 5 passes abelt leading from a countershaft, (not shown,) by means of which theapron Y is driven. The rear end of the apron Y is immediately in frontof and vbeneath the discharge-openin g from the cylinders G", so that Iothe layer of excelsior will be delivered by said cylinders upon saidapron, and thence carried on forward by the apron. Also journaled in theframe X immediately beneath the apronroller X" is an idle-roller Z',over which i 5 passes a strip or web of paper Z, led from a roll Z",suitably mounted in the framework,

as shown in Fig. l. From the roller Z' the paper Z vpasses forwardbeneath the lower side of the apron Y and immediately above 2o and upona horizontal platform A', mounted upon the framework. The left-handforward end of the platform A' terminates immediately in rear of theentrance between a pair of rollers B' C', mountedin standards D' uponthe framework, Fig. 2. The two rollers B' C are geared together at theirright-hand ends, and the lower roller is driven through the medium of apair of beveled pinions by a shaft E', mounted in suitable bearings upon3o the side of the framework and driven from a 4 counter-shaft by a beltpassing around a small pulley E", fast upon the shaft E'.

In case any ofthe pairs of supplemental cylinders G" be removed theframe X, carrying the apron Y and rollers X', X", and Z' will beunbolted from the framework and moved rearward until the rear end of theapron stands immediately in front of the forward pair of cylinders G"left in the machine, so that suchI cylinders will properly deliver thelayer of eXcelsior upon the apron. In such adjustment of the frame X thefeet at its rear end by which it is bolted to the framework will occupythe positions upon the frame vacated by the feet of the standards T ofthe rearmost pairs of cylinders which were removed.

The layer of eXcelsior delivered upon the apron Y by the bale-reducingapparatus is in f 5o turn delivered by the apron at its forward end uponthe paper strip Z as the latter passes from beneath the apron andforward over the platform A'. layer of eXcelsior upon it, passes onforward between the rollers B' C'. Suspended in a yoke L', loosely hungat its upper end in a vertical frame M', projecting from the mainframework, is a second roll of paper N', which is led downward from theforward side of the 6o roll over the rear side of the roller C', andthence between the latter and the roller B', the paper strip N' thusresting upon the upper surface of the layer of excelsior, which in turnrests upon and is carried forward by the lower strip Z. The rollers B C'do not abut against each other, but are separated a sufiicient distanceapart to permit the pas- The paper Z, with the sage between them of thetwo strips of paper and the intermediate layer of excelsior without anyconsiderable pressure upon them, 7o these two rollers not being reliedupon as the main feed -rollers for drawing forward the strips of paperand layer of excelsior, but having more or less feeding action uponthem, as may be desirable.

The lower strip of paper Z is wider than the upper strip N In themachine illustrated it may be assumed that the lower strip Z isapproximately twenty inches in width and that the layer of excelsiordelivered upon 8o itis eighteen inches in width. This will leave thelower strip of paper projecting at its opposite edges one inch beyondthe layer. of eX- celsior and the upper strip N', and the next step inthe formation of the pad after the 8 5 two strips of paper andintermediate layer of eXcelsior emerge from the forward side of therollers B' C is to turn such projecting edges of the lower strip ot'paper upward and over upon the edges ofthe upper strip preparatory 9o topasting the two together to inclose the layer of eXcelsior' betweenthem. This turning of the edges of the lower strip over upon the edgesof the upper strip is effected by what I term the forming devices, thefirst element of which consists of a horizontal sheet-metal plate orplatform O', Figs. 2 and 5, secured to the upper edge of the frameworkin the. same horizontal plane as the platform A' and the passage betweenthe rollers B' C and having its opposite edges turned upward Verygradually from its rear end toward its forward end and bent over inwardabove the horizontal bottom or body of the plate. The left-hand edge orside of this former-plate O' 1c 5 is shown projecting above theframework in Fig. 2, while a top plan View of it is shown in Fig. 5. Itextends longitudinally of the machine from a point immediately in frontof the rollers B C to a point adjacent the cutting '1 1o mechanism atthe eXtreme forward end of the machine,and its opposite edges are curvedgradually upward and inward all the way from its rear end to its frontend, so that the guideways formed by them for bending the edges of thelower strip of paper upward and over upon the upperstrip of paper actupon the edges of such lower strip very gradually and serve to directthe edges of the paper as desired without danger of the paper bucklingup or becoming mutilated.

In their forward travel over the formerplate O' the strips of paper andintermediate layer of excelsior pass beneath a longitudinal plate P',supported at its opposite ends by cross-bars Q', carried byvposts orstandards R', projecting vertically from the framework, Figs. 2 and 5.This plate P' is supported at such distance above the plate O' as toleave sufficient space between them for the passage of the paper stripsand intermediate layer of excelsior,'and the plate P' serves to hold thepaper and eXcelsior in iiat and smooth condition as they travel forwardover the plate O'.

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Hinged or otherwise loosely connected to the extreme forward end of theplate P at a, Fig. 2, is the rear end of what may be termed the inneriioating former,-which consists of a thin plate T of approximately thesame width as the layer of excelsior and upper strip of paper and ofgradually-reduced thickness from its rear to its forward end. This plateT is supported at its rear end only, and at its forward end rests uponthe upper strip of paper, and its opposite edges fit beneath theupwardly and inwardly turned edges of the outside former-plate O andconsequentlybeneath the upwardly and inwardly turned edges of the lowerstrip of paper, whose edges t within and against the inner surface ofthe edges of the former-plate O'.

The operations above described complete the pad with the exception ofpressing the inturned edges of the lower strip of paper firmly down uponthe edges of the upper strip of paper and pasting them together. As thestrips leave the forward end of the forming devices above described theypass between a pair of feed and pressure rollers, hereinafter described,which serve to firmly press the inturned edges of the lower strip downupon the edges of the upper strip. The two strips of paper may besecured together at their edges in any desired manner-as, for instance,by sewing them together by means of suitable sewing mechanism located inadvance of the pair of feed and pressure rollers above referred to; butthe usual practice is to paste them together, and I have shown and willdescribe novel means for that purpose. Heretofore the paste or glue hasbeen applied to the upper surface of the upper strip near its outeredges and beneath the inturned edges of the lower strip bysuitably-arranged discharging-spouts from a glue pot or reservoirsupported in proper position above the strips. In my new machine,however, I provide means for applying the glue between the strips bydirecting a glue-carrying thread between the inturned edge of the lowerstrip and the surface of the upper strip, at each side of the latter. Asshown in Fig. 2, there is supported between the forward setof posts R'upon the framework a glue receptacle or reservoir A3, which is ofsufficient length to extend transversely across the machine, Fig. 5.Mounted upon a spindle supported at its opposite ends in brackets B3,projectingl rearward from the upper ends of the posts R, are two spoolsof thread C3, one spool being located near each end of the spindle uponwhich they are mounted. .Iournaled in the glue reservoir A3, near thebottom thereof and extending its full length, is a roller D3, whilemounted upon a spindle supported at its opposite ends in brackets E3,projecting forward from the posts Q', is a second roller F3, or insteadof one long roller there may be employed two short rollers or groovedwheels adjacent each bracket E3 at the opposite sides of the machine.The threads G3 from the s )ool C3 ass downward thro ugh the glue withinthe reservoir A3 and beneath the roller D3 therein, and thence upwardover the roller F3, and thencevforward and downward into the spacesbetween the inturned edges of the lower strip of paperand the uppersurface of the opposite edges of the upper strip. As the strips passbetween the. pressure-rollers above referred to and the edges of thelower strip are pressed firmly down upon the upper strip, with the gluedthread between them, they will be securely pasted together by the glueupon the thread. The operation of the feed and pressure rollers indrawing the strips forward and pressing the edges of the lower stripdownward upon the upper strip serves to draw forward the threads G3 fromthe spools C3 and gluing apparatus as the lstrips themselves areadvanced.

The novel means for applying the glue above described is not only simpleand efli cient, but it overcomes the difficulties which have heretoforebeen encountered in applying the glue between the edges of the strips bymeans of curved discharging-spouts from a glue-can. The quantity of glueto be delivered between the edges of the strips is comparatively small,so that the deliverypas Sages of the spouts must be of correspondingsize, owing to which fact and tothe shape and length which it isnecessary to give them they frequently become clogged unless the glueand spouts are kept very warm.

It is also desirable in wide pads of this character to secure the upperand lower strips of paper and the intermediate layer of excelsiortogether along their longitudinal middle li ne, to which end there isshown in Fig. 2 a glue can or reservoir H3, supported in the frame M andprovided with a delivery-spout or faucet I3, from which a stream of glueis delivered upon the upper surface of the layer of excelsior restingupon the lower paper strip Z as they pass over the platform A'. Part ofthis stream of glue will pass through the ex- 'celsior to the lowerstrip and part will remain upon the upper surface of the excelsior andcome in contact with the upper'strip of paper N as the strips passbetween the rollers B' C', and when the three are passed between thefeed and pressure rollers they will be firmly secured together alongtheir middle line.

The combined pressure and feed rollers heretofore referred to by whichthe continuous pad is drawn forward through the machine and the edgesot' the lower strip pressed down' upon the upper strip are best shown inFigs. '7, 8, 9, and 10. The lower roller K3, Fig. 8, has fast upon theleft-hand end of its spindle, Figs. 7 and 9, a beveled gear L3, withwhich-meshes a beveled pinion M3, fast upon the front end of thedriving-shaft E', heretofore described, Fig. 2. The upper roller N3 ofthe pair, Figs. 7 and S, has its journals mounted in vertically-movableboxes fitting in frames O3, Figs. 7 and 8, forming part of castings P3,mounted upon the side frames of the IOC log

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machine. Coiled springs Q3, confined in the frames O3 and bearing attheir lower ends upon the vertically-movable j ournal-boxes, press thelatter downward and yieldingly hold the roller N3 in its lowermostposition, in which position there is sufficient space between the tworollers to permit the passage between them of the pad formed of the twostrips of paper and intermediate layer of excelsior. The above-describedmounting of the roller N3 is provided for the purpose of enabling theroller to yield not only to accommodate any inequalities in the pad, butalso to accommodate pads of different thicknesses, it being intended bythe employment of means which need not be described to use the samemachine for forming pads of different thicknesses.

The two rollers K3 N3 are geared together by the following. train ofgears, reference being had to Figs. 7 and 8: There is fast upon theright-hand end of the spindle of the roller K3 agear R3, dotted lines,Figs. 7 and S, which meshes with a gear S3, journaled upon'the end of anarm T3, hung upon the spindle of the roller K3, the outer end of whicharm T3 is connected by a link U3 to the outer end of a similar arm V3,hung upon the spindle of the upper roller N3, which arm V3 carries agear W3, which meshes with a gear X3, fast upon the spindle of theroller N3. Under this construction and arrangement of parts the rollersK3 and N3 remain in gear with each other notwithstanding the verticalmovements of the roller N3.

Located immediately in front of the rollers K3N 3 and upon oppositesides of the passage between said rollers are two small rollers A4 B4,Figs. 8 and l0, which receive the pad asit is delivered by the rollersK3 N3 and support it immediately adjacent the horizontaldischarge-opening C4, between the transverse front plates D4 E4, anddirect it into said opening. The lower roller B4 is journaled in fixedbearings and has fast upon the lefthand end of its spindle a pinion F4,lFigs. 7 and 9,which meshes with a pinion G4,mounted upon a studprojecting from the framework and in turn meshing with a gear H4, fastupon the spindle of the lower roller K3 at the right of the beveled gearL3, Fig. 9, by which means the lower roller B4is driven. The upperroller A4 has the ends of its spindle journaled in the lower forwardends of two arms I4, hung upon the opposite ends of the spindle of theupper roller N3, Figs. 7 and l0. At its left-hand end, (right-hand endin Fig. 10,) between the framework and the arm l4, the spindle of theroller A4has fast upon ita pinion J4, which meshes with a second pinionK4, mounted upon the arm I4, Fig. 7, which pinion K4 meshes with agear-wheel L4, fast upon the spindle of the upper roller N3 andcorresponding to the gear H4 upon the spindle of the lower roller K3,heretofore described. The roller .A4 is pressed downward toward theroller B4 by coiled springs M4, confined above it, Figs. 7 and 8, andbearing at their lower ends upon suitable verticallymovable boxessurrounding the spindle of the roller. In this manner the roller A4 isdriven by the roller N3 and moves vertically with the latter, while theroller B4 is driven in fixed position by the lower roller K3.

The forward side of the upper plate D4, above the horizontaldischarge-opening C4, Fig. 8, forms the shearing-face for thevertically-reciprocating knife N4, Figs. 8, 9, and 10, which knife issecured at its opposite ends to slides O4 O4, mounted in vertical waysin a frame P4, in which latter the transverse plates or bars D4E4 aresecured, Fig. l0.

The means for operating the knife N4 and regulating its operation to cutthe continuous pad delivered by the machine into pads of the differentlengths desired maybe next described. Each of the slides has'projectingoutwardly from it a trunnion Q4, Fig. 10, to which trunnions areconnected the upper ends of links R4, whose lower ends are connected tothe lower forward ends of levers S4, which levers are rigidly secured attheir upper ends to the opposite ends of a rock shaft T4, extendingtransversely beneath the rollers above described and journaled at itsopposite ends in boxes secured upon the framework of the machine.Mounted in rear of the rockshaft T4 is a second rock-shaft U4, which hasfast upon its opposite ends forwardly-extendingarms or levers V4, Figs.7 and 8, which have formed upon their extreme front ends gear-toothedsectors W4, which mesh with corresponding sectors X4, fast upon theextreme outer ends of the forward rock-shaft T4, Figs. 7, 8, 9, and lO.Fast upon the rock-shaft U4 at its lefthand end, and in this instanceformed integral with the left-hand lever V4, is a depending arm or leverY4, Figs. 2 and 7, to whose lower end is connected the forward end of alink Z4, whose rear end is connected to the lower end of the verticalarm of a bellcrank lever A3, which is fulcrumed upon the framework ofthe machine at B3, and whose horizontal arm carries at its rear end aroller fitting in a cam-groove C3 formed in the inner face of a disk D3,fastupon a spindle E3, extending transversely across the machine andjonrnaled at its opposite ends in the side frames thereof, Figs. 2, 5,and 53. The rotation of the cam-disk D3 will serve to rock thebell-crank lever A3 and through the connection of the latter with theknife N4 serve to reciprocate said knife vertically across thedischarge-opening C4 between the plates D4 and E4 and shear off the padagainst the lower edge ofy the plate D4. The spindle E3, which carriesthe cam-disk D3, has fast upon it between the side frames of the machinea cone F3, Fig. 53, and located by the side of this cone in reverseposition is a second cone G3,

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fast upon a spindle journaled in the side frames of the machine andhaving fast upon its extreme left-hand end abeveled pinion H3, whichmeshes with a corresponding beveled pinion fast upon the lower end of avertical spindle journaled in a box l5 upon the framework and havingfast upon its upper end a beveled gear J5, meshing with a beveled pinionK5, fast upon the driving-shaft E', heretofore described, Figs. 2 and 5.The driving connection between the cones F5 and G5 consists of anendless leather belt L5, surrounding the cone F5 and adjustablelongitudinally of the latter by a shifter M5, operated by a screw-shaftN5, journaled in the opposite side frames of the machine parallel withthe opening between the con es F5 and G5 and operated by a hand-wheel O5upon its left-hand end. The shifter M5 is provided at its forward endwith a pointer cooperating with a scale upon a rod P5, secured in theframework parallel with and adjacent to the screw-shaft N5.

The foregoing construction and arrangement of parts constitute awell-known form of variable driving mechanism by which the speed of thedriven cone F5 and parts operated by it may be regulated as desired byshifting the belt L5 in one direction or the other, the shifting of ittoward the small end of the cone F5 increasing the speed 'of the partsdriven by suoli cone and the shifting of it in the opposite directiondecreasing their speed. In the present instance the scale upon the rodP5 will be such as to indicate different lengths of pads, so that bymoving the shifter M5 to position for its pointer to coperate with anygiven point upon the scale the driving mechanism will be adjusted tocause the knife N5 to be so operated as to cut pads of a lengthcorresponding to that indicated by thepointer, as will be readilyunderstood.

Having thus fully described my invention, I claiml. A bale-reducingapparatus of the character described, embodying two converging series oftoothed cylinders and means for driving the cylinders at an increasingspeed from the inlet toward the discharging end of the apparatus.

2. A bale-reducing apparatus of the character described, embodying twoconverging series of toothed cylinders, each cylinder being providedwith a large sprocket-wheel and a small sprocket-wheel, sprocket-chainsconnecting the large sprocket of each cylinder with the small sprocketof the cylinder in front of it, and a suitable driving connection forthe two series of cylinders.

3. A bale-reducing apparatus of the character described, embodying alongitudinal bale-passage having a top and bottom converging toward itsforward end and provid ed with narrow longitudinal slots or open spaces,a series of toothed cylinders mounted beneath and parallel with thebottom of said passage and having their teeth projecting through itslongitudinal slots, a second series of toothed cylinders mounted aboveand parallel with the top of said passage and having their teethprojecting through its longitudinal slots, and

means for driving the cylinders in each series at an increasing speedfrom the inlet toward the discharging end of the apparatus.

fi. A bale-reducing apparatus embodying two converging series of toothedcylinders and means for driving the cylinders in each series at anincreasing speed from the inlet toward the discharging end of theapparatus, in combination with means for automatically feeding the balesin series to the inlet end of the apparatus.

5. A bale-reducing apparatus embodying two converging series of toothedcylinders and means for driving the cylinders in each series at anincreasing speed from the inlet toward the discharging end of theapparatus, in combination with a platform extending rearward from theinlet end of the apparatus, endless ropes mounted upon pairs of wheelsat each side of said platform and extending longitudinally thereof,means for driving said endless ropes, and a cross-bar adapted to haveits opposite ends secured to said ropes above and at opposite sides ofthe platform and to cooperate in'the manner described with the scries ofbales placed upon said platform.

6. A bale-reducing apparatus embodying a longitudinal bale-passagehaving a top and bottom converging toward its forward end and providedwith narrow longitudinal slots or open spaces, a series of toothedcylinders mounted beneath and parallel with the bottom of said passageand having their teeth projectingthrough its longitudinal slots,a second series of toothed cylinders mounted above and parallel with the top ofsaid passage and having their teeth projecting through its longitudinalslots, means for driving the cylinders in each series at an increasingrate of speed from the inlet toward the discharging end of theapparatus, in combination with a platform extending rearward from theinlet end of said apparatus and forming a continuation of the bottom ofsaid bale-passage, two pairs of wheels mounted on opposite sides of saidplatform at its front and rear ends, an endless rope passing over eachpair of wheels longitudinally of the platform, a pair of side rails orguards along the sides of said platform, a bar extending across theplatform and resting at its opposite ends upon said side rails andadapted to be connected to the endless ropes, and means for driving saidropes.

7. A combined bale-reducing and pad-forming machine of the characterdescribed, composed of a bale-reducing apparatus receiving thecompressed bale at one end and delivering its material in the form of athin layer at' its opposite end, means for supporting and drawingforward two strips of paper-a lower Wider one led beneath thedischarging end of the bale-reducing apparatus and receivin therefromthe thin layer of material reduced from the bales, and a second narrowerstrip led over the lower strip and the intermediate layer ofmaterial-means for folding the projecting edges of the lower stripupward and inward upon the edges of the upper strip, means for supplyingglue or paste between the edges of the two strips, and a pair ofpressure-rollers located in advance of the abovedescribed means andoperating to draw forward the two strips ot' paper and intermediatelayer of material and press the inturned edges of the lower strip iirmlydownward upon the edges of the upper strip.

S. A combined bale-reducing and pad-forming machine of the characterdescribed, composed of a bale-reducing apparatus receiving thecompressed bale at one end and delivering its material in the form of athin layer at its opposite end, means for supporting and drawing forwardtwo strips of paper--a lower wider one led beneath the discharging endof the bale-reducing apparatus and receiving therefrom the thin layer ofmaterial reduced from the bales, and a second narrower strip led overthe lower strip and the intermediate layer of material-means for foldingthe projecting edges of the lower strip upward and inward upon the edgesof the upper strip, means for supplying glue or paste between the edgesof the two strips, a pair of pressurerollers located in advance of theabove-described means and operating to draw forward the two strips ofpaper and intermediate layer of material and press the inturned edges ofthe lower strip firmly downward upon the edges of the upper strip, andan automatic cutting mechanism located in advance of thepressure-rollers for cutting the continuous pad into separate pieces.

9. In a pad-forming machine, the combination,with the forming devicesoperating to fold the projecting edges of the lower strip of paper overupon the edges of the upper strip, of a glue -reservoir, means forsupporting two spools of thread and leading the threads therefromthrough the glue in the glue-reservoir and thence between the inturnededges of the lower strip of paper and the surface of the upper strip,and a pair of pressure-rollers operating to press the inturned edges ofthe lower strip down upon the upper strip,with the glue-carrying threadsbetween them, and to draw forward the threads with the pad as the latteris formed.

lO. In a pad-forming machine, the combination, with the forming devicesoperating to fold the projecting edges of the lower strip of paper overupon the edges of the upper strip, of a glue-reservoir, a roller journaled therein, means for supporting spools of thread at one side ofsaid reservoir and leading the threads therefrom into said reservoir andbeneath the roller therein, another roller or rollers above and inadvance of the reservoir and upward and over which the threads are ledfrom the reservoir, and thence forward beneath the inturned edges of thelower strip of paper, and a pair of pressure-rollers operating to pressthe edges of such strip down upon the upper strip of paper, with theglue-carrying threads between them, and to draw forward the threads withthe pad as the latter is formed.

ll. In a pad-forming machine, the combination, with means for foldingthe projecting edges of the lower strip of paper over upon the edges ofthe upper strip and securing them thereto, and a pair of feed andpressure rollers for drawing forward the continuous pad and betweenwhich the pad passes, of a reciprocating knife for cutting the pad intoseparate pieces as it is delivered from the machine, poweroperateddriving mechanism for said knife, and adjusting devicesin said drivingmechanism for regulating the speed of the knife to cut the continuouspad into separate pieces of different lengths.

l2. The combination of the frame A containing the longitudinal bars B Band the inclined bars C D located above the bars B B, the series oftoothed cylinders G journaled in boxes upon the bars B B and the seriesof toothed cylinders G' journaled in boxes upon the bars C C, thecross-bars I connecting the bars B B, vertical supports J carried by thebars I, the longitudinal strips K carried. by the supports J and havingbetween them the narrow longitudinal spaces through which project theteeth of the cylinders G, the crossbars I connecting the bars D D, thesupports J depending from the bars I', the longitudinal strips K'secured tothe lower ends of the supports J and having between them thenarrow longitudinal spaces through which project the teeth of thecylinders G', and means for driving the cylinders GandG' at anincreasing speed from the rear toward the forward end of the series.

13. The combination of the frame A containing the longitudinal bars B Band the inclined bars C D located above the bars B B, the series oftoothed cylinders G j ournaled in boxes upon the bars B B and the seriesof toothed cylinders G' journaled in boxes upon the bars C C, thecross-bars I connecting the bars B B, vertical supports J carried by thesupports I, the longitudinal strips K carried by the-supports J andhaving between them the narrow longitudinal spaces through which projectthe teeth of the cylinders G, the cross-bars I' connecting the bars D D,the supports J' depending from the bars I', the longitudinal strips K'secured to the lower ends of the sup-V ports J and having between themthe narrow longitudinal spaces through which project the teeth of thecylinders G', the large sprocketwheel L and the small sprocket-wheel Mfast upon each cylinder, the sprocket-chains N connecting the sprocket Lof each cylinder with the sprocket M of the cylinder in front of it, andmeans for applying the driving power to one or more cylinders in eachseries.

la. The combination,with thebale-reducing apparatus embodying twoconverging series of toothed cylinders G and G' and means for drivingthe same at an increasing speed from their rear toward their forwardends, of the platform K5 extending rearward from the in- 4lOO IIO

let end of the passage between said series of cylinders, the wheels K7and K9 mounted at the front and rear ends of said platform, at oppositesides of the same, the sprocket-wheel K11 turning with the wheel K1, thesprocketehain K12 passing over said sprocket-wheel and over asprocket-wheel fast upon the rearmost cylinder G, the endless ropes K10passing around the wheels K7 K3, the guide-rails K14 above and atopposite sides of the platform K5, and the cross-bar K15 detachablyconnected to the ropes K13 and resting upon the rails K14.

15. The combination of the former-plate O having I[he upwardly-curvedand inturned opposite edges, the glue-reservoir A3 supported above andacross said former-plate in the frame Q', the roller D3 journaled in thereservoir A3, the spools of thread C3 mounted upon a spindle supportedupon the frame Q', the

roller F3 mounted in supports upon the frame' at the opposite side, ofthe reservoir A3-the threads G3 being led from the spools C3 downwardinto the reservoir A3 and beneath the roller D3, and thence upward overthe roller F3 and thence forward beneath the inturned edges of the lowerstrip of paper within the former-plate O-and the pair of feed andpressure rollers K3 N3 located at the forward end of the former-plate O'and operating to draw forward the strips and to press the inturned edgesof the lower strip downward upon the upper strip with the glue-threadsG3 between them.

1G. The combination, with the rollers K3 N3 for drawing forward thecontinuous pad, the

cross-plates D4 E4 located in front of said rollers and provided withthe discharge-openings C4, the small rollers A4 B4 located between theplates D4 E4 and rollers K3 N3, for supporting the pad immediatelyadjacent the plates D4 E4, means for driving the rollers K3 N3 and therollers A4 B4, the reciprocating knife M4 carried by the slides O4mounted in vertical ways in the frame P4, and driving mechanism forreciprocating said knife.

17. The combination of the reciprocating knife N4, and a drivingmechanism therefor having interposed in it the drivin g-cone G5 anddriven cone F5, the endless belt L5 intermediate said cones, the shifterM5 for said belt, the screw-shaft N5 for operating said shifter, the rodP5, and the scale on the rod P5 coperatin g with the pointer on saidshifter.

18. The combination of the rollers K3 N3, the latter journaled invertically-movable spring-pressed boxes, suitable gearing intermediatesaid rollers, the plates D4 E4 having the passage C4 between them, therollers A4 B4 located betweenl the plates D4 E4 and the rollers K3 N3,the roller B4 being mounted in fixed bearings and geared to the rollerK3, and the roller A4 being mounted in arms I4 I4 hung upon the spindleof the roller N3 and geared to said roller, springs M4 bearing uponvertically-movable boxes upon the spindle of the roller A4, and thereciprocating knife N4 cooperating with the plates D4 E4.

EDGAR J. STEVART.

Witnesses:

EDWARD RECTOR, LEoNoRA WISEMAN.

